Release Detail

July 21, 2004 - Most New Yorkers Back Stadium -- If It's Built Tax-Free,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Voters Say Stadium And Olympics Are Likely

By a 54 - 41 percent margin, New York City voters support building a new West Side
stadium for the 2012 Olympics and the New York Jets football team - if the stadium
generates enough income to pay off the money the city and state will borrow to help
build it, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

If the added revenue does not cover the city/state borrowing costs, then New
York City voters oppose the stadium 78 - 19 percent.

Either way, 64 percent of all New Yorkers, including 59 percent of Manhattan
voters, say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that the stadium will be built, with 29
percent of all voters who say "not too likely" or "not likely at all."

"The stadium argument comes down to tax dollars: If the claim is correct that the
stadium will generate enough income, New Yorkers say, 'Build it!'" said Maurice
Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"If taxpayers have to pick up the tab, no way, they say.

When asked if they support the total West Side development plan, including the
stadium, expansion of the Javits Convention Center, extending the Number 7 subway
line and rezoning the area to allow for apartment and office buildings, New York City
voters are opposed 54 - 39 percent, led by Manhattan voters opposed 66 - 28 percent.

But when they consider the plan's components individually, New Yorkers:

Oppose building the stadium 57 - 38 percent;

Support expanding the Javits Convention Center 59 - 32 percent;

Support extending the Number 7 subway line 74 - 20 percent;

Support rezoning for apartment and office buildings 56 - 34 percent.

Asked how likely it is that each component will be completed, voters say:

74 percent "very likely" or "somewhat likely" for the Javits Center;

62 percent "very likely" or "somewhat likely" for the subway line;

72 percent "very likely" or "somewhat likely" for the rezoning.

"While the argument for the Olympics/football stadium hangs on who pays for it,
New Yorkers give pretty solid support to the other components of the West Side plan,"
Carroll said. "And no matter how they feel about the stadium, voters are pretty much
convinced that it's going to happen."

From July 12 - 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,119 New York City
registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida
and nationwide as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

23. There is a proposal to build a new stadium for the New York Jets football
team and the 2012 Olympics on the West Side of Manhattan. The proposal would
include expanding the Javits convention center, extending the number 7 subway
line to the Javits center, and rezoning areas around the new stadium to allow
for apartments and offices. In general, do you support or oppose this
proposal?

28. How likely do you think it is that...
-- a new stadium will be built for the New York Jets football team
and the 2012 Olympics on the West Side of Manhattan?
Is it very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely or not likely at all?

33. Supporters of a new stadium for the Jets and 2012 Olympics say that it
will generate enough income to repay the money the city and state borrow to
help build it. Would you support or oppose the stadium if this were true?